Compactly stackable chair



D. L. ROWLAND COMPACTLY STACKABLE CHAIR Original Filed Nov. 13, 1962 Sept. 27, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 DAVlD L. ROWLAND INVEN TOR.

BY 4144b ZZw/QN Sept. 27, 1966 D. 1.. ROWLAND COMPACTLY STACKABLE CHAIR Original Filed Nov. 13, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG,.5

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DAVID L. ROWLAND IN VENTOR.

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Sept. 27, 1966 ROWLAND 3,275,371

COMPACTLY STACKABLE CHAIR Original Filed Nov. 13, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 DAVID L. ROWLAND INVENTOR.

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' councmr STACKABLE CHAIR Original Filed Nov. 13, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

DAVID L. ROWLAND IN VEN TOR.

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United States Patent O 3,275,371 COMPACTLY STACKABLE CHAIR David L. Rowland, 49 W. 55th St., New York 19, N.Y. Continuation of application Ser. No. 237,057, Nov. 13, 1962. This application May 14, 1965, Ser. No. 456,609 Claims. (Cl. 297-239) This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 237,057 filed November 13, 1962, now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 13,090 fi'led March 7, 1960, now patent No. 3,080,194.

This invention relates to a compactly stackable chair.

The use of large numbers of removable chairs for audience seating at a great variety of public gatherings has presented problems which have not heretofore been solved satisfactorily. One problem is how to provide a chair that can be stored in a minimum amount of space and is also quickly and simply set in position for use. Since they store fairly compactly, numerous types of folding chairs have been used, with varying degrees of success. But the folding chair has two inherent drawbacks; one, the excessive time it takes to unfold it and later to refold it; and two, the movable joints, which wear, become loose, and ultimately break or deform, bind, and become inoperable. One object of my invention is to provide non-folding chairs which can be stored even more compactly than can folding chairs and yet do not possess the drawbacks of time-consuming operation and movable joints which characterize folding chairs.

Another problem is that of providing removable seating of sufficient strength and durability. Since the chair must be capable of accommodating a wide range of weights and sizes with a large margin of safety, it has become conventional to construct the chair of relatively heavy and cumbersome material. But ease in handling is important in its effect on the eifort and time of setting up and taking down the chairs. Therefore, another object of my invention is to provide a strong, exceptionally durable chair which is also remarkably easy to handle.

My invention rel-ates to an improved stackable nonfolding chair. While chairs of this general type are known, they have hitherto required an excessively large space for storage; usually the frame was so large and was so designed that, although the chairs were stackable," only a few could be stacked successfully in one pile without falling over. Often there was a three or four inch vertical interval between chairs so that a stack of less than ten chairs was more than four feet high. Another and very important object of my invention is to provide compactly stackable chairs.

The frame of my new chair is of minimal bulk, and when these chairs are stacked, corresponding frame members are immediately adjacent each other, rather than being separated by useless empty space. The present invention makes it possible to stack forty chairs into a four-foot-high space, whereas only about ten chairs or less of previous designs could be put into a comparable space. In larger quantities the net occupation of space by my new chairs is about 1.75 chairs per cubic foot (i.e., 350 chairs will go into 200 cubic feet). Moreover, the chair of this invention is of simple construction; so simple that no skill in handling chairs is necessary to maneuver it. My new chair is so compact and easy to bandle that large quantities can be carried on dolly carts with a minimum of effort. It is possible for two men to stack or unstack and put in place approximately one hundred of my chairs a minute.

The amazing fact that 350 chairs of this invention will go into 200 cubic feet is due to a novel combination. In 7 order to stack a maximum number of chairs into a minimum volume, the chair frames must be made very thm.

Patented Sept. 27, 1966 "ice However, while thin frames are necessary to compactness, ordinarily it is not practical to have thin frames, because the rear legs tend to bend when the chair is sat on, and the chair would have a tendency toward sidesway that causes a sitter much uneasiness. In the present invention, I combine the feature of frame thinness with a novel proportioning of a certain part of the rear legs. I have found that by widening the rear legs for a substantial distance above and below their meeting with the seat-frame portion of the chair, side sway is eliminated without having to thicken the frame. Hence, an unusually thin frame can be provided and maximum storageability is achieved.

As the result of a thorough study of seating comfort, my chair also provides a maximum of comfort for both slouching loungers and upright sitters. It is appropriately suited to auditorium and theatres and other places where people must sit for hours at a time. While the seat is shaped for comfort, it also has been sculptured to allow water to drain, so that no puddles form when it rains, a feature making my chair especially useful in outdoor areas.

These and other highly desirable features provided by the present invention are more fully described by the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a chair embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the chair of FIG. 1 showing the individual parts thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of two chairs like that of FIG. 1, showing one being stacked upon the other.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a completed stack of three chairs like that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a view like that of FIG. 1 of a modified form of chair also embodying the principles of this invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded View of the chair of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation of the chair of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a view like that of FIG. 1 of another modified form of chair also embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the chair of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view in side elevation of the chair of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 1313 in FIG. 12.

A chair 10 embodying the principles of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-6. The chair 10 is not a folding chairall its parts are rigidly secured together and are immovable relative to each otherbut it is readily stackable in a small space. Broadly speaking, the main elements of the chair 10 are a frame 11, a seat 12, and a back 13; the seat 12 and back 13 being separately andrigidly secured to the frame 11.

Even before considering the chair 10 in detail, certain outstanding features can be noted: (1) The height H (FIG. 3) of the seat 12 above the floor is many times the thickness T of the frame 11, preferably at least 30 to 1. (2) The thicknesses t of the seat 12 and t of the back 13 are each less than the thickness T of the frame 11 (see FIG. 3), so that when several chairs 10 are stacked, the frame 11 rest one upon the other and the seats 12 and backs 13 do not touch. In other words, the chairs 10 do not rest on their seats 12 or backs 13 when they are stacked. (3) The space below the seat 12 is entirely open; there is no brace or other obstructing member in this space that would prevent nesting. (4) Below'the seat 12 the frame 11 slopes out toward the front and toward the back.

Many other important features'will become apparent from more detailed consideration; first, of the single chair 10, then of chairs stacked individually.

The frame 11 may conveniently be made of cylindrical steel rod or tubing and may be quite slender. .For example, Z4 steel rod has been successfully used to produce a strong, light-weight, stackable chair. The cross section may be oval, square, rectangular, or other suitable shape as indicated in FIG. 13, instead of cylindrical. Moreover, although metal is preferred as the frame material, other materials of suflicient strength per cross-sectional thickness and of sufficient durability may be used.

The frame 11 of the chair 10 of FIGS1-6 comprises four principal components welded or otherwise rigidly secured together; two side-frame members 14 and 15, a seat-frame member 16, and afront cross brace 17.

Analogous structures may be used, as for example those,

shown in FIG. 8.

The side-frame portions shown as members '14 and 15 are symmetrical rather than identical, and have respective horizontal floor-engaging bottom rails and 21, each with an upwardly extending, forwardly sloping rear,

leg 22, 23. The rear legs 22,23 extend up above the" seat 12 and terminate in back-supporting portions. 24, which may be bent to extend backwardly, if desired.

Since the rear legs 22, 23 are made from slender stock, they are preferably strengthened by providing a portion 26, 27 of each leg that is substantially wider than it is thick; the portion26, 27 maybe an integral part of the leg 22,123 or an extra piece of. no greater thickness than the leg may be welded to make a portion 28 of extra width. These portions 26, 27'prevent collapse of the legs 22,.23, upon application of severe sidewise stresses. As shown in the drawings, the portions 26, 27 extend both above and below the juncturei29 ,of the rear. legs 22,23 with the seat-frame member 16.

The seataframe member 16 shown in the drawings, is a frame portion that comprises a parallel pair of upper, inclined, seat-supporting side rails 30 and, 31 which are bent out from a back rail 32 and lead into respective front legs 34 and 35 that are parallel to each other. and slope outwardly toward their lower ends 36 and 37. The side rails 30 and 31 are closer together than the bottom rails 20 and 21 by an amount at least twice the thickness of the bottom rails 20 and 21; so that the bottom rails 20, 21 of an upper chair 10 are not stopped by the side rails. 30, 31 of a lower chair 10,,during stacking as shown in FIG. 6. For this reason, the side rails 30 and 31 are preferably connected to the back legs 22, 23 by spacing members 38 and 39 and to the front legs 34, 35 by spacing members 40 and 41.

When the frame 11 is made in the four components 14, 15, 16, and 17, it may be assembled by welding the front cross brace 17 to the front legs34, 35 at about their midpoints and parallel to the floor, by welding the extremities of the back rail 32 to the rear legs 22, 23, using the spacing welds 38 and 39, and by welding the lower ends 56 and 37 of the front legs 34 and 35 to the front ends at the bottom rails 20 and 21,}using the spacing welds l0 and 41. In place of welding, other fastening expedi- :nts, such as bolting or riveting, may be used; and the frame 11 may be made, similarly, in morerthan four :omponents or fewer having, iortions.

The resultant frame -11 is stackable as such; in fact, 11 the fully completed chair 10, the frames 11 are the :lements that stack, for the seats 12 and backs 13 are so made as to avoid interference with this stacking or touchhowever, the same frame ng during the stacking. Stacking of the frame 11 alone s often convenient in the factory.

The seat 12 may be constructed froma wide variety of lard materials, including vinyl-clad sheet metal, sheet metal, wood, reinforced plastic, resin-impregnated glass fibers, and others; so long as the, required strength and durability .are achieveds The thickness t of the seat 12 is substantially less than the thickness T of the frame 11, as clearly illustrated in'F IG. '3. This critical feature of my invention enables thechairs to be stacked upon one another with a maximum of compactness, for. only the frames 11 of the several stackedchairs are in contact, the seats 12 not touching each other.

The sides of the seat. 12 may be firmly attached to the adjacent side rails 30,31 by two or more brackets 42 (FIG. 2). These brackets 42. may comprise a channellike support member welded-or in some other, manner firmly secured-to the adjacent side rail 30 or 31 and crirnped to a rolled edge. 43 of the seat 11 after insertion of that edge. The illustrated brackets42 provide a very strong and durable method of attaching the seat 12 to the 1 frame 11, but many other types of juncture, readily apparent to' one skilled in this art, are operable and maybe substituted for the illustrated preferred variety. The one limiting factor to be observedin the use of other brackets 7 the same material for both the seat andthe back gives Q uniformity in appearance as well as in strength, and simplifies construction procedures. thickness t of the back 13 must be less than the thickness T of the frame. This enables theframe members to nest snugly upon the corresponding frame members of other chairs when a stack is formed, with the backs themselves not touching each other.

The back .13 is secured to the chair frame 11,1 and more particularly to the back supports 24, 25 by brackets 44 similar to the brackets 42, except that they are curved, and the brackets 44may be similarly attached.

Considered alone without regard to its stacking fea-- tures, the chair 10 has many highly advantageous qualities. For instance, it is easily handled with a minimum of effort. It is made of a relatively small'number of parts, enabling production for a lesser cost than other more elaborate chairs. Then, these parts are joined together in a relatively simple manner, also aiding in paring the expense of construction. Although, the chair frameis made from very slender; rod material, it is extremely. strong, due to the particular configuration of the backv frame and to the widened portions '26 and 27. The seat and back members are also extremely strong, yet con- V sist of relatively thin, inexpensive material.

The chair achieves a peak of comfort never before attained by hardsurfaced chairs. The chair is extremely durable and can withstand much severe abuse such as is encounteredin usage as auxiliarypublic seating, where it is. quite often set up andthen stored away. From these attributes it is readily apparent that my chair has lessened or entirely eliminated some of the problems in the art, and provides a meansof inexpensive, durable andcomfortable seating for a great number of occasions.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, stacking individual chairs is an easy process. The potential upper chair 10B (FIG. 5) is placed above, but slightly forwardof, the potential lower chair 10A, with the side rails Mind 31 and the bottom rails 20 and 21 of the upperchairlOB directly over the same rails, respectively, of the lower" chair 10A. Therefore, as the chairs are stacked one on top of another, the rear legs 22,123 and the bottom rails 20, 21 of the upper chair 10B straddle the side rails 30, 31 and the front legs 34,135, respectively, of the- 'lower chair 10A. The upper chair 10B,is then lowered down and back to contact the lower chair: 10A. When the upper .chair 1013 comes to rest on the lower chair 10A As-with the seat 12,:the-

in the most compact position, the side rails 30, 31, the back rail 32, the front legs 34, 35, the bottom rails 20, 21, the rear legs 22, 23, the back supports 24, 25, and the front cross brace 17 of the upper chair B are resting snugly on the same members, respectively, of the lower chair 10A. A third chair 10C may similarly be added, as shown in FIG. 6, and so on. No unused space is left between the stacked chair frames 11, with a result that the chairs occupy the very minimum of storage space. In quantities :above ten, my chair design enables more chairs to be placed in a given volume of storage space than has ever before been achieved with either folding or stacking chairs. For instance, forty of my chairs can be put in a stack about four feet high. To prevent the stack from falling over, high stacks are inclined on suitable retaining brackets or dollies with the stack vertical.

In a modified form of chair 50 embodying the principles of the invention, shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the seat 51 and back 52 are made as a single unit 53; it may for example be formed of fibreglass and plastic. An opening 54 is provided adjacent the juncture of the seat and back to permit drainage of Water when the chair 50 is used outdoors, the seat 51 sloping back toward this opening 54, as shown in FIG. 9.

In this instance, the chair 50 has a frame 55 made up of five pieces, namely, two side frame members 56 and 57, two seat frame members 58 and 59, and a front cross brace 60, the seat frame member being made in two pieces instead of one and the combination seat-back 53 helping to strengthen the chair.

The two symmetric side frame members or frame portions 56 and 57 have respective horizontal floor-engaging bottom rails 61 and 62 and generally upwardly extending and somewhat forwardly sloping rear legs 63 and 64, the upper portions 65, 66 of which are widened to the general conformation similar to that shown in FIG. 4 so as to provide the additional strength needed above and below the seat level.

The symmetric seat frame members or frame portions 58 and 59 provide front legs 70 and 71, side rails 72 and 73, and vertically extending rear portions 74, 75. Suitable metal balls 76 may be provided for resistance welding of the rear portions 74, 75 to the portions 65, 66 of the side frame members 56, 57, and similar balls 77 are provided for welding the legs 70, 71 to the rails 61, 62. When the seat frame members 58, 59 are welded to their respective associated side frame members 56, 57, the reinforcing member 60 may be welded to them and then they may be joined to the seat-back member 53 by any suitable means, including a latching arrangement or cementing, or crimping of the rolled edge 78 onto the seat frame members 58, 59, as with the rolled edge 43 in FIG. 2 or the seat edge may be Wrapped around the frame members 58, 59.

Once more it will be seen that the thickened portion 65, 66 of the side frames 56, 57 prevent side sway and enable a very compact stacking of the chairs, substantially as in FIGS. 5 and 6. Again the frame members of one chair will engage the corresponding portions of the other chair, except possibly for a small place at the very edges of the seat 51, where a thin portion only of the seat member will lie between. If desired, the frame members 58, '59 can be made of thinner stock than the side frame members 56, 57, thin enough so that the combined thickness of the seat on the frame 58, 59 is still less than the thickness of the frame members 56, 57. Thus the only touching areas while stacked would be along the frame members 56 and 57. Stacking and other treatment are substantially the same as in the chair 10.

Another modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10 through 13, in which a chair 80 is shown having a frame 81, a seat.82, and a back 83. The seat 82 and back 83 are substantially identical to those shown in the chair 10, as are all the members except side frame members or frame portions 84 and 85, which, instead of being made from generally cylindrical stock widened merely above and below the connection to the seat frame, are made from flat bar stock, as shown in FIG. 13, which is much wider than it is thick. The thickness is substantially the same as that of the rod stock, and the greaterwidth does interfere at all with stacking or the compactness of storage of chairs; however, this greater width does provide the additional strength needed in a thin-frame chair. Operation is almost exactly the same as that of the chairs alreadyconsidered and it will stack in the same manner.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely difiering embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A lightweight, durable and compactly stackable chair comprising frame means providing substantially parallel front legs and substantially parallel side rails connected thereto,

a pair of substantially parallel L-shaped side frame portions each comprising a bottom rail and a rear interposed means connecting the front end of each said bottom rail to and spacing it from the bottom of the adjacent front leg,

second interposed means connecting the rear legs to and spacing them from the side rails,

seat and back means at least as thin as said frame means and L-shaped side frame portions and fastened to them,

means for stiffening each said rear leg including an enlarged body portion in cross-sectional area, extending laterally of the body a substantial distance both above and below the spacing connection of said rear legs with said side rails, which is wider then the thickness of said rear leg.

2. A lightweight, durable and compactly stackable chair comprising frame means providing substantially parallel front legs and substantially parallel side rails connected thereto. a pair of substantially parallel L-shaped side frame portions each comprising a bottom rail and a rear leg,

interposed means connecting the front end of each said bottom rail to and spacing it from the bottom of the adjacent front leg,

second interposed means connecting the rear legs to and spacing them from the side rails,

said pair of rear legs each having stiffening means including an enlarged body portion in cross-sectional area, extending laterally of the body a substantial. distance both above and below the spacing connection of said rear legs with said side rails, and

seat and back means thinner than said frame means and L-shaped side frame portions and fastened to them.

3. The chair of claim 1, in which each of said L-shaped side frame portions is substantially wider than its vertical thickness to provide maximum stackability and still have stability widthwise.

4. The chair of claim 1, in which the enlarged body portion in cross sectional area of each rear leg includes a laterally disposed rib which extends a substantial distance therealong both above and below the spacing connection of said rear legs with said side rails.

5. lightweight, durable and compactly stackable chair comprising frame means providing substantially parallel front legs and substantially parallel side rails connected thereto, a pair of substantially parallel L-shaped side frame portions each comprising a bottom rail and a rear leg,

interposed means connecting the front end of each said bottom rail to and spacing it from the bottom of the adjacent front leg,

7 8 second interposed means connecting the rear legs to and 1,989,426 I 1/ 1935 -Pollak 297-239 spacing them from the side rails, 7 1,993,601 3/1935 Goldberg 297-239 a pair of rear leg stiffening members, each including an 2,995,182 8/1961 Hendrickson 297-445 enlarged body portion thereon extending a material 3,080,194 3/1963 Rowland Q. 297-248 distance laterally out from the leg both substantially 5 above andra substantial distance below thespacing FO IG TE TS connection of said rear legs with said side rails; and 102,044 9 1937 Australia seat and 'back means at least as thin assaid frame means 630 904 11 /1954 Canada and L-shaped side frames portions and fastened to 714,173 3 1931 France them. 10 467,446 6/1937 Great Britain. 675,916 7/1952 3 Great Britain. References Cited by the Examiner 274,390 5/ 1930 Italy. UNITED STATES PATENTS 183,365 8/1958 Monroe 297 446 15 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1,718,321 6/ 1929 Vericel 297-450 F. K. ZUGEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LIGHTWEIGHT, DURABLE AND COMPACTLY STACKABLE CHAIR COMPRISING FRAME MEANS PROVIDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL FRONT LEGS AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE RAILS CONNECTED THERETO, A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL L-SHAPED SIDE FRAME PORTIONS EACH COMPRISING A BOTTOM RAIL AND A REAR LEG, INTERPOSED MEANS CONNECTING THE FRONT END OF EACH SAID BOTTOM RAIL TO AND SPACING IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ADJACENT FRONT LEG, SECOND INTERPOSED MEANS CONNECTING THE REAR LEGS TO AND SPACING THEM FROM THE SIDE RAILS, SEAT AND BACK MEANS AT LEAST AS THIN AS SAID FRAME MEANS AND L-SHAPED SIDE FRAME PORTIONS AND FASTENED TO THEM, MEANS FOR STIFFENING EACH SAID REAR LEG INCLUDING AN ANLARGED BODY PORTION IN CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA, EXTENDING LATERALLY OF THE BODY A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW THE SPACING CONNECTION OF SAID REAR LEGS WITH SAID SIDE RAILS, WHICH IS WIDER THEN THE THICKNESS OF SAID REAR LEG. 